ABERCROMBIE RIVER. 139 



We continued our journey over a very beautiful 

 and romantic country, with distant thinly-wooded 

 mountains trending towards the Abercrombie 

 river, which was not far off, reminding me of 

 some of the spl ended scenery of Devon. After 

 travelling about four miles, descending a steep 

 hill, we arrived on the banks of the river, which at 

 this part of its course was a rapid, but not broad 

 stream. Swamp oaks ( Casurina paludosa) grew 

 abundantly on the banks, their dark foliage giving 

 a gloomy character to the scene.* 



After crossing the river, (which, not having 

 been lately swollen by rains, was effected without 

 much difficulty,) we had to ascend a very steep 

 hill, which brought us to a gradually ascending 

 road over hills, having a remarkably beautiful, 

 verdant, and romantic appearance. The thinly- 

 wooded hills were thickly clothed with a bright 

 carpeting of verdure, imparting a cheerful feature 

 to the country, which was further increased by a 

 number of flowers scattered about, of various 



* The " swamp oak" bears much resemblance to the larch. 

 I know not why this and other species of the casuarina trees 

 have received the colonial appellation of " oaks," as forest-oak,, 

 swamp-oak, she oak, &c., as they have not the slightest 

 resemblance to that tree in external character, unless the 

 name may have been given from some similarity in the 

 wood. 



